Oswego County, NY

Named for an Iroquois word meaning “place of the pouring out,” Oswego County, NY is located on the southern shore of Great Lake Ontario and the edge of theTug Hill Plateau, with easy access to I-81 and I-90. The area’s unique natural features make Oswego County the perfect place to explore the great outdoors.

Fishing

Oswego County is surrounded by water. From trolling on Lake Ontario for trophy trout, salmon and walleye to fly-fishing for steelhead, Atlantic salmon and wild brook trout, the area offers unmatched angling opportunities.

Oswego County’s waters have produced 12 world and state record fish, including a 47-lb. Chinook salmon from the legendary Salmon River! Licensed guides and charter captains provide expert guidance and equipment for anglers of all ages.

Fat Bikes

The Winona Forest IditaFAT race offers distances of 12k to 36k. Located east of Lake Ontario, Winona Forest receives 250 to 300 inches of snow annually. Winona is home to some 30 miles of mountain biking, hiking, cross-country ski and snowshoe trails.

Paddling

Paddlers can explore remnants of the old canal along the Oswego River, watch for bald eagles, osprey and heron along pristine streams and reservoirs, or float the rapids of the Salmon River.

Birding

One of the premier hawk watches in the Northeastern United States is Derby Hill, where on average 40,000 raptors are counted each spring as they migrate northwards. Diverse woodlands, wetlands and expansive shorelines make this a popular birding destination.

Information

The French explorer Samuel de Champlain described Oswego County’s landscape in 1615 as “a very pleasing and fine country, watered by numerous small streams, two small rivers which empty into said lake [Ontario] and a number of ponds and prairies…”